Outcome: Germanic Kingdoms Emerge & Charlemagne The Middle Ages Outcome: Germanic Kingdoms Emerge & Charlemagne

Constructive Response Questions Who was Charlemagne and why is he significant?

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge In the upheaval between 400 and 600, small Germanic kingdoms replaced Roman provinces Borders changed constantly Family ties and personal loyalty were more important than public government and written law Germanic stress on personal ties made it impossible to establish orderly government

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Clovis and the Franks The Franks had power in Gaul (modern day France and Switzerland)

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Clovis was leader of the Franks Christianity was a constant variable in the Middle Ages Clovis brings Christianity to the region Fears defeat by another Germanic tribe and appeals to Christian God: Battle shifts in his favor and Franks win Clovis and 3,000 of his warriors ask a bishop to baptize them By 511, Clovis had united the Franks in one kingdom

3. Germanic Society Germans and Romans intermarried and created a new society in which German customs had an important role. Because Germanic society was heavily centered on the family unit, a very unique system of law and punishment developed based on a fine system called wergild.

German society Wergild, which means “money for a man,” was the value of a person in money; which then means, the value varied according to social status. It was far cheaper to kill a peasent then a member of the nobility! In order to determine ‘guilt’, there was the ordeal; which was based on divine intervention (Divine forces would protect the “innocent” from being harmed!)

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge A Frankish Empire Evolves The Franks now controlled the largest and strongest of Europe’s kingdoms When Clovis died in 511, the Franks controlled most of modern day France

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Frankish position of Mayor of the Palace: Position which had become the most powerful in Frankish kingdom Official power: Had charge of the royal households and estates (like a lord) Unofficial power: Led armies and made policy, essentially ruling the kingdom

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Charles Martel or Charles the Hammer By 719, Charles held more power than the king as mayor of the palace Charles was part of the Franks and therefore was Christian

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Charles Martel or Charles the Hammer Defeated Muslim raiders from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732 Historians argue that if the Christians had lost, Muslims could have taken over Europe Charles was a Christian hero; Christianity wins At his death, he passed his power to Pepin the Short (not necessarily short) Pope anoints Pepin “King by the grace of God,” thus beginning the Carolingian Dynasty- family that would rule the Franks from 751-987

Charlemagne

Charlemagne Charlemagne Becomes Emperor Pepin the short died in 768 Charles the Great, better known as Charlemagne takes over in 771 Imposing figure standing 6 foot 4 inches tall

Charlemagne Charlemagne as King Was now the most powerful king in Western Europe Charlemagne built an empire greater than any known since the Romans His conquests against the Muslims to the south and east spread Christianity He united Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire The empire became known as the Holy Roman Empire Charlemagne strengthened his power by weakening power of the nobles Sent out royal agents to check on powerful landowners Regularly visited his kingdom Encouraged learning- surrounded himself with scholars and opened new monasteries

charlemagne x. Carolingian Renaissance Charlemagne’s desire to promote learning led to what has been called the Carolingian Renaissance Renewed interest in Latin culture and classical works of Greeks and Romans. Carolingian monks copied works, thus preserving them for future generations

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge In 800, he traveled to Rome to protect the pope  the pope rewards Charlemagne by crowning him emperor This historic coronation showed that the pope had more power than the king

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Charlemagne died in 814, his grand sons split up the kingdom- bad idea Carolingian kings lost power and authority broke down This lead to the rise of feudalism

Germanic Kingdoms Emerge Result: Through Christianity, Clovis was able to unite the Franks into a strong Christian, military power. Charles Martel solidified Christianity’s strength in Europe which helped lead to the eventual rise of the more powerful Frankish king Charlemagne.

Constructive Response Questions Who was Charlemagne and why is he significant?